My sister has a Sony HandyCam DVD recorder and want to convert her home movies to .avi or .wmv.

Anyone use a free converter they can recommend?

TIA,

Brian

I don't stream video, but take a look at some of the Xbox 360 forums around the 'net. The last system update for the 360 added the ability to stream video (including HD) from Media Center PCs to the 360 for playback, but (of course) they have to be in .wmv format. So, that has generated a lot of discussion on converters in the xbox world.

I use a few, but they are all for Mac. She probably doesn't use a Mac, huh?

Me switching to the world of Macs might be coming sooner than I expected. The screen on my $400, 3 year old, Compaq laptop is going bad. [/hijack]

I have some software you can use. I'll burn you a copy and give it to you next time we do lunch or something. Just remind me.

She does at work- she is a graphics designer- I think she has a Mac laptop she takes when she works from home.

This is a free one I found http://www.autogk.me.uk/modules.php?name=TutorialEN, but I have not tried it.

This is one that I use to turn almost any video format to .avi :
ffmpegX

Thanks, I'll pass that on.

It amazes me that the digCam does not come with software to do this.

Cool, thanks.

I'm surprised that you're amazed that Sony would use some ridiculous proprietary format that would need conversion. Remember Beta, UMD, ATRAC, Mini-Disc, Blu-Ray, Memory Stick, etc?

Actually it is standard DVD format (.vob)

Now I'm surprised!

CPD - if you have a Windows machine, you can use WIndows Movie Maker to transfer & edit. Then again you need the proper connections to to computer (firewire, whatever, etc.).

Her machine is running XP pro, I don't think it has Movie Maker.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloa...oviemaker2.mspx

It does now! Very easy to use. Not sure of your experience but it'll do what you need.

R U sure it can read from a dvd? Doesn't seem like a Micro$oft way of doing things.

Without knowing specifics of the camera, I just used specs for one using a 3" dvd. You should be able to connect it directly to your computer. Try it once using it as a webcam with Movie Maker. If that works, then use the capture feature on Movie Maker and it should play in the camera and record to the HD. You're not actually ripping from DVD.

Of course without having it here, I can't tell you first hand, just what it's like with my mini-dv.